Memoirs of the Court of Louis XIV. and of the Regency — Volume 02

The listener steps into the intimate world of a 17th‑century French court, narrated through the candid recollections of a duchess who once shared her life with the Regent’s brother. She paints vivid portraits of the king’s towering, disciplined presence opposite his petite, flamboyant sibling—who favors masquerades, delicate dances and the clatter of church bells over battlefield bravado. Their stark differences become a source of both amusement and tension, revealing how personal quirks shaped royal policy and daily routines.

Beyond the glitter of Versailles, the memoir offers a rare glimpse of private letters, whispered jokes, and the fragile alliances that bound families together. Listeners will hear how the duchess, after years of striving for her husband’s affection, confronts love, loss, and the relentless gossip of courtiers. The early chapters set a tone of wit and honesty, inviting you to experience the court’s intrigues through the eyes of someone who both loved and endured its excesses.